It had been almost two days since Percival was sent after the wild beasts who escaped from the royal palace. Tension had started to grow among the soldiers of General Arthogan. What could have happened to the son of the general?Arthogan did not disclose his son's predicament to any member of the royal council, nor did he present his case. But he was not at rest in his heart. He wished he had not sent the boy after those beasts."I should have known better than entrust him with that responsibility. He is always uncalm and forward. What would his mother say now?" He pushed away the tray of food which was set elegantly on the table before him. He was fuming with rage and fear."Mother shall know nothing of this." Smaragdus said, assuring his father. "I shall find him!""No!" The general rejected the idea. "You shall remain here in the royal palace with the prince. The havoc that plagues our land right now, I do not think he is alive anymore."Smaragdus was taken aback."You think he has
Daella rose from her bed in high spirits. Today, his majesty would announce personally to his people the annulment of the law he made all those years ago. And he would declare war on the red king.Everything was now going her way. This was a moment of change, her moment of change. And she already had her plans in place to make sure that these events work out in her favor.She knew deep within herself that even if the wizards were received back with smiles and laughter, and the dignity of Meredith was restored in their eyes, the dignity of King Morrys would never be revived. He would always remain an enemy to the conjurers of magic."They will never forgive him for all he did!" She said to herself as she dressed up before the mirror. There was no maid around and she tended to herself. It was her choice.She had now finished making herself up for the day, and she admired her own beauty in the form of her reflection. While she stared on with smiles on her face, the image of the strange
As the curtains of night drew upon Meredith, the people remained still in their large numbers under the receding sun, chanting and reciting the same words over and over again. While some parts of the crowd sang songs of war and restraint, the young brave men swarmed towards the royal palace so they could join the war and fight alongside their brothers against the red one.They moved in a long line towards the general's base to swear their loyalty and commit their swords to his command.The general admitted them even though he knew that they were mostly young lads who had no experience in battle. But what to do? Warriors were needed more than wine right now. He remembered his pact with Prince Daerys. If their plan would go on to succeed, he would need enough men to make up for the number of soldiers who would ride away with Daerys to the end of the world. Even though he wondered if the action was really necessary anymore now that the king had returned earlier than expected, he remai
Even all through the nights, the palace was still busy preparing for war. More men came in at every hour, pledging their loyalty to the sword of Meredith. As another morning came slowly, the prince strode around the palace, awaiting the time for the execution of his plan.A group of soldiers gathered at a part of the palace, and they stalled up the bodies of the wild beasts who were killed on the night of the attack. "Burn them!" One of them said. And at the command, two guards came forward speedily with torched steels in their grasps. They moved towards the bodies and made to set them ablaze."Wait!" A voice called from behind. "Your highness!" The men bowed to Prince Daerys as he came towards them. "It is the order of the king to burn these bodies," said the soldier who had commanded the others earlier."I know." The prince sighed, "Pull that one out.""What?" The man stuttered. "Pull him out." The prince repeated, "It is an order."There was no choice for the soldier. He sign
A young warrior found his way past the groups of men who were swearing their swords to the crown against the red king. He was awed by the magnificence of the royal palace.All his life, he had always watched from afar. The beauty, the greatness and the might, all bestowed on the house of Arnold. Now all that was right in front of him.He stared with his eyes in his mouth as he walked the length of the palace. Ahead of him spread the most elegant picture he had ever beheld. The walls shined like diamond, bearing almost no difference to the silver windows. From upclose, it seemed like the height of the palace reached into the deep heavens.These lures of beauty caught him in their trap and led him away from his companions. Slowly, the chants of the soldiers faded into the rustle of the wind. Till he was far away from where he could recognize.Everywhere was as silent as a grave, even the chants of soldiers could not be heard again. The only remaining voice was that of birds as they flap
Cynthy appeared back in Princess Daella's room with the butter tea the princess had requested for earlier.As she laid the flat tray on a table, Daella was seated in front of her mirror, staring at the beauty that belonged to her reflection."What did you hear them say?" She spoke as she watched Cynthy through the mirror."The lords were talking about you." "I know. What did they say?"Cynthy turned around and proceeded to the princess's side. "They say you are in cahoots with the wizard. They even think that you may be his blood and flesh, they doubt your mother's loyalty to the king.""Such is the way of those lords. I am not suprised." Daella replied, seemingly unconcerned with the rumours."Is it true?" Cynthy mumbled to Daella's ears.The princess was shocked at her question. "My mother would never lay with a wizard. He is well below her taste.""No. Not that.". Cynthy replied, "Are you in cahoots with the wizard?"Daella turned her head upwards to look her maid in the eyes. "Ye
The feel of the floor was cold to her skin as was the touch of the strange dark sword which lay closely upon her neck, stretching back to the arms of the shadow and threatening to push further into her throat.The mysterious soldier wore a dark cloak that pulled over his face, emanating coldness. Looking deep into his face, Daella could not see a thing until she looked even harder, and then she beheld his two orb shaped grey eyes.They stared at her so close, and yet felt so far as though they looked upon her from afar. Dark and cold, but yet so distant.It seemed as if he wasn't real, but the head of the unfortunate soldier still lying dead and cold on the ground beside her was enough testament to the shadow's realism. He could have killed her, but something in him would not allow it. She could see it. And she could feel it. A strange power, stronger than his will, keeping him rooted in his steps and transfixed before her.For so long, he only stared and stared until his grip became
"She has to die!""Kill her!""The seed of a traitor!""Daughter of doom!"A wave of murmur took over the entire throne room."Never!" Daella rose tall in the middle of the council, standing strong for the fate of her best friend. She would not see Cynthy's head cut off from her shoulders. Not in this lifetime.Her beloved maid was on her two knees before the king who sat high on the highest throne. Two soldiers stood mightily by her two sides, their swords so big and scary in their metal sheaths as the entire court gathered to decide her fate."Two times it has been", Lord Robert continued, "And her family has brought no good but waste to the royal house. Never before has this happened, and never again shall it occur!"The tension rose again by his words. And Daerys could not take it where he stood, away from the tension and alone in his thoughts."None of those things is her concern!" Daella objected, ready to defend till her last breath. "Her father became a traitor, but she did he